Relationship between depression and malnutrition in hospitalized aged people / 中华老年医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the relationship between depression and malnutrition in hospitalized aged patients. Methods The mini nutritional assessment (MNA) table and geriatric depression scale (GDS) were used to investigate the nutritional status and depression of 114hospitalized elderly. Results The prevalence of depression was 62.3% (71 patients), the prevalences of malnutrition and latent malnutrition were 43.9% (50 patients) and 41.2% (47patients) respectively. The prevalence of malnutrition and latent malnutrition was higher in depressive patients than in non-depressive patients. After controlling age, number of illnesses, bed-ridden or not and method of nutrition, the nutritional status was negatively correlated with the grade of depression.Conclusions The prevalence of malnutrition in depressive patients is high and is associated with the grade of depression.